Electrical connector

ABSTRACT

A cable assembly has a series of cables whose ends are joined to contacts in separate insulating housings. The housings at each end of the assembly are ganged on holders. Each holder has a series of slots separably engaged with tabs on the associated housings. Each holder is flexible and has a portion which can be grasped by a person to allow the person to manipulate the assembly to join it with and disconnect it from mating contact elements on a printed circuit board.

Unite States Patent Di Stefano et a1. Apr. 41, 1.972

[54] ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR 3,086,074 4/1963 Just et a1. ..339/l26 RS x Inventors: Edmund J Di Stefano; Arthur E. Endel 3,335,387 8/1967 Mueller ..339/125 X l R be C H n u hk 2,888,660 5/1959 Fox ..339/1l0 93$; a 3,159,447 12/1964 Crimmins et al. 339/103 x sic, 3,403,369 9/1968 Steiff et a] ..339/l7 [73] Assignee: International Business Machines cor ra. 3,521,217 7/1970 Sebastian ..339/1 19 X tion, Armonk, N.Y. I Primary ExaminerRichard E. Moore [221 Ned: Atlorney-Hanifin and Jancin and Douglas R. McKechnie [21] App1.N0.: 858,476

[57] ABSTRACT 52 u.s. c1. ..339/110 R H0lr/l3/62 A cable assembly has a Series cables whse ends arelbined 51 1111.01 ..:.H0lr 13/46 mmacls in Separate ing housin s. The housings m 53 Field of Search ..339/l08 109 1 10 19s 1 19 each end assemb'y m ganged Each 339/46 has a series of slots separably engaged with tabs on the associated housings. Each holder is flexible and has a portion [56] References Cited which can be grasped by a person to allow the person to manipulate the assembly to join it with and disconnect it from UNITED STATES PATENTS mating contact elements on a printed circuit board. 3,060,401 10/1962 Fraser ..339/125 L 5 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 41972 3.654.589

sum 1 0F 4 T H 0 Liln TI I v I! I I "751%"- INVENTORS EDMUND J DI STEFANO UR E. ENDERLEY BY RT C. HOFFMAN X/kM ATTORNEY PATENTEDAFR 41912 3.654. 589

SHEET l [1F 4 PEG. H FEG.i2

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to electrical connectors. More specifically, it relates to electrical connectors of the type having a series of spaced or ganged connector elements or contacts engagable with mating connector parts.

2. Description of Prior Art Within the prior art, it has been proposed to wire or connect contact elements on a printed circuit by means of cables attached at their ends to connectors. The connectors may be connected to and disconnected from the mating contact elements by a simple push-pull motion. In many applications, the printed circuit boards have a relatively large number of connections to be made. As the density of contact elements on a board increases, due to the miniaturization, the act of wiring the board by separately connecting each end of each cable to the appropriate contact element becomes laborious. This action is not only time consuming but it is also prone to error in that as a board becomes more fully wired, it is more difi'icult to identify the appropriate contact elements.

As pointed out more fully hereafter, the invention contemplates ganging a series of contacts, joined to the ends of cables, on holders so that a plurality of connections can be made simultaneously. The prior art includes numerous examples of connectors in which a plurality of contact elements are arranged for simultaneous connection to and disconnection from mating contact elements. However, such prior art connectors are generally of the type in which the contact elements are united into an integral or complex housing so that a single contact element cannot be disconnected without disconnecting all contacts or dismantling the entire assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One of the objects of the invention is to provide a novel connector assembly including a plurality of contacts ganged together for simultaneous connection to and disconnection from mating connecting elements, the ganging being accomplished so that individual contacts can be detached selectively from the assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel cable assembly particularly adapted for connection to contact elements on a printed circuit board.

Another object is to provide a holder for ganging a series of housings containing a series of terminals or contacts.

Briefly stated, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a holder in the form of a flat flexible plastic card has a series of parallel slots. A series of housings, each containing contacts attached to the end of a cable, are mounted on the holder in adjacent parallel relationships so as to hold the contacts in spaced relationship for plugging onto and pulling the terminals from contact elements on a printed circuit board. Each housing has a tab which fits in an associated slot of the holder so as to separately interlock each housing and contact with the holder. One advantage of such arrangement is that the wiring of a printed circuit board can be done at a fast rate because a plurality of connections are made simultaneously. Another advantage of the invention is that individual cables or connectors can be disconnected from the holder and from the printed circuit board.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cable assembly mounted on a panel board.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are top plan and side elevational views of a cable assembly embodying the invention.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal view, partly in section, through a housing showing the connection of the cable and contacts thereto.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are top plan and side and end elevational views of the tab portion of a housing.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a holder.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are side elevational views partly in section illustrating how a housing is connected to the holder.

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view partly in section showing how the holder pushes the connectors onto the mating portion of the panelboard.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 but showing how the holder is used to disconnect the connector from the panel board. FIGS. 1-12 are on different enlarged scales for clarity of illustration.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION Although it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is susceptible to a variety of uses, it has particular utility for use in wiring printed circuit boards having a relatively large number of terminal pin type of contact elements per unit area. Accordingly, the invention will be explained as applied to the wiring of a specific type of printed circuit or panelboard by use of a specific type of connector. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to such specific elements.

With reference to FIG. 1, a panelboard 15 includes a multilayered printed circuit board 16 having internal conductors electrically connected to upstanding, square terminal pins 17 and U-shaped ground rails 18 mounted on board 16. Ground rails 18 are supported by standofis 19 above the surface of board 16. Ground rails 18 and pins 17 are arranged in parallel rows. Panelboard 15 is wired by a cable assembly 20 connected to certain ones of the contact elements, i.e., ground rails 18 and pins 17.

Cable assembly 20 includes connector assemblies 210 and 21b at opposite ends thereof. Each connector assembly includes a holder 22 connected to a plurality of housings 23, which contain the connector elements or contacts for making the electrical connection to ground rails 18 and terminal pins 17. A plurality of cables 24 extend between connector assemblies 21. Holders 22 each include a portion that can be grasped between the thumb and index finger whereby the holder can be used to pull or disconnect the connector assembly 21 from the panelboard 15 and to initially connect it to panelboard 15. In addition, holders 22 unite the various cables 24 and housings 23 of the cable assembly to form a unit. The individual housings 23 are interlocked with holder 22 and can be selectively separated therefrom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, cable assembly 20 comprises connector assemblies 21a and 21b interconnected by six cables Z ta-24f. The connector assemblies comprise holder 22a engaged with housings 23a-23f and holder 22b engaged with housings 23g23l. The housings 23 of each connector assembly are of shallow cubical or box-like shapes and are supported on the associated holder in parallel, adjacent, side-byside relationships.

With reference to FIG. 4, each cable 24 contains three wires or conductors 25 enclosed in an insulated sheath 26, the sheath being shaped, scored or weakened throughout its length so that the ends of the cable can be readily parted and stripped of insulation to bare the individual wires. The two outer wires 25 are attached mechanically and electrically to a contact 27, housed in housing 23, and the central wire is connected to a contact 28. Contacts 27 and 28 are known as fork connectors whose tines are substantially flat and lie in a common plane. Housing 23 has a slot 29 shaped to fit over a ground rail 18 so that contact 27 can be electrically connected thereto. The housing 23 also has a hole 30 shaped to fit over a terminal pin 17 so that contact 28 can be electrically connected thereto. The attached ends of contacts 27 and 28 and cable 24 are embedded in a non-conductive body 31 molded thereabout. A portion of body 31 projects from housing 23. The outer edges of the tines of contacts 27 and 28 lock with retaining edges 32 on the housing so as to prevent the contacts from being pulled from housing 23 except by use of a suitable tool or excessive force.

of slots 380-38f corresponding in number to the maximum number of housings that can be interlocked therewith. With reference to slot 38d, each slot includes reduced width end portions 39 and 40 and an enlarged width medial portion 41. The size and shape of slot 38 is related to the size and shape of tab 34 so that housing 23 can be joined or connected to holder 22, in a manner more fully described in reference to FIGS. and 11 below, by engaging tab 34 in slot 38. To allow this interlocking or engagement, the width W1 (FIG. 7) of head 36 of tab 34 is substantially equal to the width W2 (FIG. 8) of medial portion 41 of slot 38. The width of neck 35 is substantially equal'to the width W3 of portions 39 and 40. The length L1 (FIG. 6) of neck 35 is substantially equal to the lengths L2 and L3 (FIG. 8) of portions 39 and 41 and is greater than the length L4 of end portion 40. The thickness t (FIG. 9) of holder 22 is about the same as the height h (FIG. 6) of neck 35. Tabs 34 and slots 38 are so dimensioned as to provide sliding fits therebetween. To accomplish this, the corresponding dimensions of tab 34 are slightly less than those of slot 38, in a manner well-known in the art. As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, head 36 is longer than neck 35 to provide an overhanging lip.

Referring now to FIG. 9, to engage housing 23 with holder 22, tab 34 of the housing is first aligned with the medial portion 41 of a slot 38, as shown in FIG. 9 by the dotted position of housing 23. The housing is then moved so that the lip portion of head 36 passes through portion 41 until the rear of tab 34 abuts the underside of those portions of holder 22 surrounding the inner end of portion 40, as shown by the full line position of housing 23 in FIG. 9. Then, with a compound movement, the lefthand portion of housing 23, as viewed in FIG. 10, is moved to the left from the dotted position, in the direction of arrow a so that neck 35 enters portion 39. Simultaneously, the rear portion of housing 23 is pivoted upwardly in the direction of arrow b until the topside of the main body portion of housing 23 abuts the underside of holder 22, as shown by the full line position of housing 23 in FIG. 10. In this position, housing 23 can be moved relative to holder 23 by sliding the tab 34 along slot 38 between the two extreme end positions. The reverse of this sequence of movements can be used to disconnect the housing from the holder. The housing may also be disconnected as described below.

With reference to FIG. 11, when it is desired to join connector assembly 21 with panelboard 15, holder 22 is gripped between the thumb and index finger. The flexibility of holder 22 permits the index finger to be inserted between it and cables 24. The housings are then aligned to fit over the respective pins 17 and ground rail 18 and the assembly is moved or pushed in a downward direction. This downward movement causes housing 23 to abut the end of portion 39 of slot 38 whereby the pushing motion is transferred from holder 22 to housing 23 through the end of neck 35. The downward movement is continued until holder 22 reaches the position shown in FIG. 11, wherein the lower end of holder 22 abuts the top surface of printed circuit board 16 so that the final pushing force is not exerted directly against pins 17 and ground rail 18.

In order to disconnect the connector assembly 21 from panelboard 15, holder 22 is grasped, as shown in FIG. 12, in a manner similar to that used to push the connector onto the panelboard and it is pulled upwardly. This upward movement will cause the holder 22 to initially slide relative to housings 23 until the ends of portions 40 of slots 38 abut the lower end of necks 35. From this point on, further upward movement disconnects the connector assembly 2i from ground rail 18 and terminal pins 17.

The reason for the shorter length L4 of portion 40 will now be explained. When a connector assembly is mounted on panelboard 15, an individual housin and contacts therein may be selectively disconnected. To 0 this, the holder 22 is moved upwardly to the position of holder 22b in FIG. 1. This is the position which if further upward movement is continued, as shown in FIG. 12, the connector assembly would be disconnected. At this point, holder 22 is bent or flexed to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 12 and a tool (not shown) can then be inserted in slot 38 and engaged with housing 23 so as to pull housing 23 upwardly whereby tab 34 passes through slot 38.

A corner of each holder 22 may be notched as indicated at 45 in FIG. 8, and this edge can be used to provide a quick visual check that all of the connector assemblies 21 mounted on panelboard 15 are in the correct position. In addition, the area of holder 22, which is normally engaged between the fingers, provides a means by which the connector assembly may be readily identified, for example, as to the location of the pins to which it is to be connected.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electrical connector, a plurality of contacts housed in separate adjacent housings, each housing having a body and a tab projecting therefrom, each tab having a neck extending away from said body and a head supported on said neck in spaced relationship parallel to said body, a holder having a flat body of a thickness substantially equal to the spacing of said neck, said body of said holder including a manually grippable portion and a plurality of elongated parallel slots corresponding to the number of said housings, each of said slots having a first portion of a width substantially equal to the width of said neck and a second portion of a width substantially equal to the width of said head, said holder being adapted to be connected to said housings by interlocking said tabs in said slots, whereby said housings are ganged on said holder for connecting said contacts with mating connector means.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said contacts are connectable to and disconnectable from said mating connec tor means by push-pull motions, and said grippable portion is arranged relative to said slots so that push-pull forces applied to said grippable portion are transmitted through said housings to said contacts for effecting said push-pull motions.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said body is substantially rectangular and said grippable portion is at one end, said slots being at the opposite end whereby said housings are arranged along one edge of said body.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said one edge projects beyond said housings in a direction away from said grippable portion and is operable to limit movement of said contacts upon engagement with said mating connector means.

5. The combination of claim 1 including a plurality of conductors having ends attached to said contacts, said holder uniting said conductors, said contacts and said housings into a cable assembly. 

1. In an electrical connector, a plurality of contacts housed in separate adjacent housings, each housing having a body and a tab projecting therefrom, each tab having a neck extending away from said body and a head supported on said neck in spaced relationship parallel to said body, a holder having a flat body of a thickness substantially equal to the spacing of said neck, said body of said holder including a manually grippable portion and a plurality of elongated parallel slots corresponding to the number of said housings, each of said slots having a first portion of a width substantially equal to the width of said neck and a second portion of a width substantially equal to the width of said head, said holder being adapted to be connected to said housings by interlocking said tabs in said slots, whereby said housings are gAnged on said holder for connecting said contacts with mating connector means.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said contacts are connectable to and disconnectable from said mating connector means by push-pull motions, and said grippable portion is arranged relative to said slots so that push-pull forces applied to said grippable portion are transmitted through said housings to said contacts for effecting said push-pull motions.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said body is substantially rectangular and said grippable portion is at one end, said slots being at the opposite end whereby said housings are arranged along one edge of said body.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said one edge projects beyond said housings in a direction away from said grippable portion and is operable to limit movement of said contacts upon engagement with said mating connector means.
 5. The combination of claim 1 including a plurality of conductors having ends attached to said contacts, said holder uniting said conductors, said contacts and said housings into a cable assembly. 